The National tribune., 1887-06-09

No one deprecates the trouble which has
arisen over the meeting Of the National En-
campment in ST. Louis more than we do.
We have desired, and DO desire above all
things that the forthcoming meeting shall
be the most numerously attended, the most
harmonious, and the most satisfactory in
every way Of all the National Encampments
in the history of the Order.
There has been every reason to hope for
this. ST. Louis is the central point for
greater number of ex-Union soldiers than
any other great city in the Nation. This
was the wcightiest reason in influencing IFS
selection In the first place, the States west
Of the Alleganies-all Of which are within
easy reach of ST. Louis-sent larger proper
tion Of their population into the army than
any other section Of the country. Secondly,
ever since the conclusion Of the struggle the
veterans from the Eastern States have been
swarming to Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Mime
sofa, Nebraska, Dakota and Colorado. Act
ual enumeration shows more than 100000
ex-Union soldiers in Kansas alone. All of
these are more or less anxious TO gather at
some accessible point where they can meet
comrades whom they have not seen Cor years
perhaps not since they were mustered out.
They would like 10 take their wives and
children with them, and make such gather
ing as there never has been since The close Of
the war, and Cor many OF them never would be
again. ST. Louis has facilities for this such
as no other great city has The comrades
of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado
can 20 thither easier than they can TO any
other great city. Those of Kentucky, Ten
nessee. West Virginia, Indiana and Ohio
can 20 there with little more trouble than
to Cincinnati OF indianapolis, while those of
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Iowa and Dakota would have but little more
trouble in reaching st. Louis than Chicago.
For the comrades east of the Alleganies ST.
Louis is as convenient as any city in the
Mississippi Valley.
With all the conditions favorable, there
fore, the attendance ought to be enormous.
Kansas alone could fill the city, to say moth
ing of the outpouring from the great De-
partments of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio
and Indiana.
In common with every well-wisher of the
Order we are keenly desirous that all the
conditions shall be favorable But they
viii he the farthest remove from favorable il
Mr. Cleveland brings his obnoxious person
ality thither, and with il stirs mp the whole
Southwest TO iiock to the city TO greet and
, honor him. The comrades do not want {,
meet him; they do not want TO meet thos
who are anxious TO meet and hurrah owe
him; they do not want him TO visit the En-
e campment in any sort Of capacity; they d
not want TO be reviewed by him; they d
: not want the harmony OF the Encampmen
disturbed by the wrangles which the atter
u tions paid him or not paid him viii ineyi
e tably induce, and, most emphatically, the
do moi want 10 be ulcked or Jnggled d
managing politicians into being part an
parcel Of any "ovati0n" in his honor.
D. II is sheer nonsense TO say that these uI
lg pleasant consequences will not follow b
:. visit during the Encampment. The Pres
a. dent OF United States is too important a pc
sOnage 10 visit any city without excitir
demonstrations Of great popular inteTes
a To deny this is to belittle that great ofic
a Mr.. Cleveland being the first President
lis his party TO cross the Mississippi, and b
representative relation TO the great mass